Plans

Question 1

What is the purpose of the plans practice?

Answer 1

The purpose of the plans practice is to facilitate communication and control by defining the products to be delivered, and the means to deliver them

Question 2

What is the definition of a plan?

Answer 2

A proposal which outlines the what, where, when, how and who of the project as a whole

Question 3

Why are plans important?

Answer 3

Plans are important for the user requirements and benefits, products to be delivered, delivery method, sequence of works, estimated duration of delivery, facilitates and locations involved, estimated costs, risks

Question 4

What are the 3 levels of plan?

Answer 4

The project plan is a high level plan showing major products of the project - created at IP stage and updated in MSB

Then there is the stage plan
Then the team plans (optional)

Question 5

What is the stage plan?

Answer 5

A stage plan should include a product breakdown structure, work breakdown structure, identifies major activities and resources needed

Question 6

What is a project plan?

Answer 6

Project plans are normally high level. It’s made in IP and baselined when it becomes DP, then re-baselined after every MSB. It should detail the number of stages, boundaries and number of proposed WPs and their delivery methods

Question 7

What is an exception plan?

Answer 7

Exception plans occur when a risk or issue comes into plan, it follows the exception report. Once an exception plan is approved, it becomes the new baseline product. It needs approval from the PB if it replaces the stage plan and approval from the business if an exception plan replaces a project plan

Question 8

Are longer or shorter stages better?

Answer 8

Shorter stages mean more stage boundaries. This is harder for the PM as longer stages mean fewer end stage assessment and less input from the project board. WPs ideally should not span a Stage boundary!

Question 9

Do stages overlap?

Answer 9

Stages do not overlap!

The project board must review everything at the end of each stage and ensure there is continued business justification. Whereas work packages often overlap

Question 10

What should you consider when dividing projects into stages?

Answer 10

Consider the delivery method and how far ahead it is sensible to plan

Question 11

Which principle aligns to the plans?

Answer 11

‘Focus on products’

Question 12

What is the planning technique?

Answer 12

• Identifies products and their dependencies
• Simplifies the identification of the WPs
• Identifies sequencing of the WPs

Question 13

What is the product based planning technique?

Answer 13

1. Defining and analysing products
2. Organising work packages
3. Preparing estimates
4. Prepare schedule
5. Prepare budget
6. Document the plan – a short narrative
7. Analysing risks throughout!

Question 14

‘Defining and analysing products’ is step 1 of the product based planning technique. What does it entail?

Answer 14

1. Write the project product description
2. Create a product breakdown structure (PBS) – a hierarchy of all products to be produced during a plan
3. Write product descriptions
4. Create a product flow diagram

Question 15

What is the product breakdown structure (PBS)?

Answer 15

The hierarchy of all products to be produced during a plan. Descriptions need to be written for outcomes, including the users quality expectations.

Question 16

What headings should be included in the product description?

Answer 16

• Identifier – product name
• Version - which version
• Purpose
• Composition - what it’s made of
• Format
• Derived from
• Quality specifications
• Development or skills required
• Quality tolerance
• Quality methods and quality skills required

Question 17

What is a product flow diagram?

Answer 17

A product flow diagram shows the sequence of production and interdependencies – it identifies the appropriate delivery method

Question 18

Why is a product flow diagram important?

Answer 18

The sequence of when and how the products need to be produced is very important

Question 19

What is a WP?

Answer 19

Work packages describe how one or more products will be produced and delivered. It includes statement of work to be done and the associated work breakdown structure

Question 20

What is a WP description?

Answer 20

Work packages describe how one or more products will be produced and delivered. It includes statement of work to be done and the associated work breakdown structure

Question 21

What are internal and external dependencies?

Answer 21

Internal dependencies mean the project team has control over the dependency between one product and another

External dependencies means a product being produced is dependent on an aspect outside of project scope

Question 22

What is step 3 the product based planning technique?

Answer 22

Preparing estimates:

• How long we think activities will take
• What people and resources we need to make them happen

Question 23

What is step 4 the product based planning technique?

Answer 23

Preparing a schedule – graphical representation e.g Gantt chart

Question 24

What is step 5 the product based planning technique?

Answer 24

Preparing the budget which uses this information to allocate budget or stage

Question 25

What is the product sustainability?

Answer 25

The environmental impact of the product (like an EPD)